Egypt's sports minister plays down Abdel-Zaher's Rabaa salute

Egypt's Sports Minister Taher Abou-Zeid played down the importance of Ahmed Abdel-Zaher's goal celebration after the Ahly striker made the four-finger 'Rabaa' salute during his team's African Champions League final against Orlando Pirates. Abdel-Zaher wrapped up Ahly's win after doubling their lead with 12 minutes remaining as the Red Devils beat South Africa's Orlando Pirates 2-0 to win the African Champions League with a 3-1 aggregate victory. However, he stirred controversy when he made the Rabaa sign, saying he sought to honour the victims of the police's dispersal of an Islamists sit-in in August that left hundreds dead and thousands injured. "Ahly's Champions League triumph is bigger than Abdel-Zaher's sign. This does not matter, what matters is that Ahly won the title," Abou-Zied said in a television interview. "Ahly is a patriotic club that was always at the heart of any revolution." An Egypt Kung fu player was banned for one year earlier on Sunday after making the same gesture at a competition in Russia. Source: Ahram Online